'the Twilight Zone' Walking Distance

Season 1. Episode 5“Walking Distance”Originally aired on Oct. 30, 1959Written by Rod Serling Spoiler Alert: You should only continue reading if you have seen the episode in question. The Twilight Zone’s themes are revealed in subtle ways that shouldn’t be ruined by reading an essay before you have seen the episode.

Every year, Rod Serling would make a trip back to his hometown. Often he would walk the same streets that he walked as a child, and his daughter wonders what he saw during those walks. Did he see childhood friends or his parents at the door of his old home? Serling was well aware that a man cannot go back home again. Recapturing the carefree days of youth filled with memories of cotton candy, 10 cent chocolate sodas and carousels is only meant for the memory. Instead, a man must live in the moment while still looking forward, and if he is lucky, he will find band concerts, the sounds of a calliope, and slightly more expensive chocolate sodas where he is. When he finds these things, if he is smart, he will allow himself to indulge instead of ignoring the childhood luxuries for the stress of the rat race.